Naoya Inoue, Japan’s reigning super bantamweight world champion, faced an early challenge but ultimately emerged victorious against Mexico’s Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome, successfully defending his titles.
The atmosphere at the Tokyo Dome, accommodating over 45,000 spectators, was electric on Monday as Nery stunned fans by knocking down the undefeated “Monster” Inoue in the opening round with a powerful left hook.
In a remarkable turnaround, Inoue swiftly recovered, retaliating with a knockdown in the subsequent round and delivering another in the fifth before securing victory with a decisive right hook in the sixth.
This event marked the return of boxing to the Tokyo Dome since James “Buster” Douglas’s monumental upset victory over unbeaten heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1990.
Inoue extended his impeccable record to 27-0, with an impressive 24 wins by knockout, reaffirming his status as an undisputed super bantamweight world champion.
This match also marked Inoue’s debut since attaining undisputed super bantamweight status in December, making him just the second fighter, after American Terence Crawford, to achieve undisputed champion status in two different weight classes since 2004.
Welcomed with fervent cheers from the Tokyo Dome crowd, Inoue overcame adversity to secure a dominant victory, thrilling fans with his resilience and skill.
Nery, a former two-division world champion, faced resistance from the audience as he fought in Japan for the first time since losing his bantamweight world title in 2018 due to a weight issue. Despite being booed upon his introduction, Nery displayed resilience throughout the bout.
Inoue’s transition to the super bantamweight division proved successful, with victories over Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales, culminating in his undisputed championship status. Previously, he made history as the first undisputed bantamweight world champion since 1972.
In an undercard bout, Japan’s Yoshiki Takei clinched the WBO bantamweight world title with a unanimous decision victory over Australian champion Jason Moloney, further adding to the night’s excitement in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
